Upcoming Events
3/5, General Membership Meeting, 5:30pm, COGS Office
3/7, First Friday Happy Hour, 5-7pm, The Mill
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Why Join UE-COGS?
Not a COGS member yet? Here's why you should become one:
* Only by being a member of UE Local 896/COGS can you have a say in your contract. We'll be going back to the bargaining table next fall, so we're making plans now for what we want to have on the table. The contract covers wages, health and dental insurance, tuition scholarships, and work rules. If you have something you think should be in the contract, become a member and let us know about it.
* Keeping the union strong ensures that we have the most voices represented at the bargaining table and helps us to win a better contract.
* The union defends the contract for all bargaining unit members, and only with your support can we continue to do so. UE-COGS is the only organization working to ensure that graduate assistants aren't being overworked or underpaid.
* UE-COGS is a great way to meet other graduate students. Grad school is often an isolating environment. COGS has a variety of events that provide our members an opportunity to meet people outside their departments. Check the calendar for upcoming events.
* The COGS Discount Card! New this year, the discount card is available only to members of COGS. It provides discounts to nine local businesses including coffee shops, restaurants, and a bookstore.
If you’re ready to join us, print off a membership card, and mail it into us, or email us at cogs@cogs.org and we will get a card to you.
Do You Know Your Steward?
Stewards are the backbone of UE Local 896 - COGS, serving as the official union representative in departments around campus. All departments should have at least one union steward. Click here to see a list of the stewards that have been reported to the UE-COGS Office. If your department steward is not listed, please contact us at cogs@cogs.org. If you are interested in being a steward or in electing a steward for your department, contact one of the chief stewards at cogs@cogs.org.
New Contract In Effect
On July 1, 2007, our new contract took effect. This contract preserves the rights we’ve won during the past ten years and continues the efforts to improve the living and working conditions of graduate employees at the University of Iowa.
With the new contract, salaries will continue to increase. The new minimum salary for a 50% academic year appointment is $16,277, while for a 50% fiscal year appointment the minimum salary increases to $19,894. This fall, minimum tuition scholarships will increase to $1,962 per semester for nine credit hours, or approximately 62.5% of tuition. Tuition scholarships for different levels of enrollment will continue to be pro-rated accordingly.
The union will mail you a copy of the contract this fall, but you can view the actual agreement at 2007-2009 Agreement. A breakdown of the agreement’s effect on take-home pay can be viewed by clicking on 2007-2009 Take Home Pay.
If you have any questions on the new contract, contact the COGS Office at 337-5074.
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10 years of COGS!!! See the Union Difference...
UE Local 896 - COGS:
The Graduate Employee Union at the University of Iowa
10 Years at the University of Iowa!!!
We're Just Getting Started!!!
See the Difference the Union has already made ...
| Before UE-COGS 1995-1996 |
With UE-COGS 1996-Present |
| Salaries | |
Minimum 50% Salary |
Minimum 50% Salary = $16,277 |
| Tuition Scholarships | |
| Majority of graduate employees not granted a tuition scholarship for TA or RA work | All TAs and RAs receive a minimum tuition scholarship equivalent to 62.5% of the cost of tuition |
| Health Insurance | |
No preventive care |
Full preventive care - $0 per visit Full dental plan Full prescription drug coverage Full mental health coverage Employees only pay 30% of cost for dependent insurance |
| Workplace Rights | |
| No grievance procedure No protection against overwork No appointment posting and letters No job security No protected paid leave Grievance procedure with binding arbitration |
Contract protections against overwork Departments post appointments and give appointment letters by deadlines Departments must honor initial promises of employment Paid leaves including sick leave, family illness leave, bereavement leave, and jury duty |
©2004 COGS UE Local 896, University of Iowa
member UE National
email: cogs@cogs.org